The foreign nationals arrested during a raid on a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Lapu-Lapu City are set to undergo criminal and immigration inquests, according to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).
During a public briefing on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon, PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio said 169 foreigners were apprehended, with 163 arrested on suspicion of involvement in a scam operation and six rescued.
“They went through two legal processes today. The first one is what we call a criminal e-inquest. The inquest is happening now to determine who will face criminal charges. We already have some individuals identified to be charged criminally,” Casio said.
The detainees include 91 Chinese, 69 Indonesians, six Burmese, two Taiwanese, and one Malaysian. Four Filipinos were also arrested, authorities said.
Casio said the Lapu-Lapu City compound had been in operation since 2019 and was reserved for foreign nationals working in the scam farm.
Authorities are seeking to confiscate the two-hectare compound, which had been reserved for foreign workers since 2019.
Casio revealed that they are looking for the possible connection of the apprehended foreigners to the other raided POGO hubs in Tarlac and Pampanga. Casio urged local governments to step up efforts against illegal POGO operations.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Foreigners nabbed in Cebu POGO hub to undergo inquest — PAOCC.”
